The Clackamas County Code is the body of local laws adopted by the Board of County Commissioners that governs land use, building safety, animals, noise, short-term rentals, solid waste, and other day-to-day matters in the unincorporated parts of the county. If you live inside a city like Lake Oswego or Oregon City, that city’s own municipal code applies to you instead. The code is divided into numbered titles and chapters, and knowing which title covers your situation is usually the fastest way to find the rule or file the right complaint.1Clackamas County. Clackamas County Code
How the Code Is Organized
Each major subject area sits in its own title, with chapters inside addressing specific topics. The titles most residents actually run into are:
- Title 5 — Animals: dog licensing, dangerous-dog rules, animal enforcement.
- Title 6 — Public Protection: noise control, curfew, graffiti.
- Title 7 — Roads: road use and right-of-way.
- Title 8 — Business Regulations: short-term rentals, transient lodging tax.
- Title 9 — Buildings: the building code, dangerous structures, excavation, erosion control.
- Title 10 — Franchises: solid waste, recycling, cable, ambulance services.
- Title 12 — Zoning and Development Ordinance: zoning districts, setbacks, permitted uses, ADUs, marijuana siting.
One point of regular confusion: zoning is in Title 12, not Title 10. Title 10 handles franchise matters like solid waste hauling. And solid waste rules themselves sit in Chapter 10.03, not under Title 6 where people sometimes look for them.2Clackamas County. Codes Enforced in Clackamas County
Zoning and Land Use
Title 12 contains the Zoning and Development Ordinance, commonly called the ZDO. It assigns every parcel in unincorporated Clackamas County to a zoning district — residential, agricultural, commercial, industrial, and others — and spells out what you can build or operate in each one.3Clackamas County. Zoning and Development Ordinance Permitted uses, setbacks from property lines, maximum building heights, and lot coverage limits all vary by district. The county publishes zoning maps that show which district applies to any given parcel. Before buying property or starting a project, checking that map is the single most useful step you can take.
Accessory Dwelling Units
ADU rules are in ZDO Section 839. Inside an urban growth boundary, an ADU can be up to 900 square feet in most districts and up to 500 square feet in the R-2.5 district. Outside an urban growth boundary, the cap is also 900 square feet, and the ADU must sit within 100 feet of the primary dwelling.4Clackamas County. ZDO 839 – Accessory Dwelling Units Rural ADUs must meet wildfire hazard mitigation standards, including State Fire Marshal defensible-space rules for properties in wildland-urban interface areas. One restriction catches owners off guard: an ADU in the county cannot be used as a short-term rental.5Clackamas County. FAQ – ADUs in Rural Residential Areas
Marijuana Production, Processing, and Retailing
ZDO Section 841 governs where commercial cannabis operations can locate. Production is allowed in agricultural and forest districts such as AG/F, EFU, and TBR. Retail is limited to commercial districts like C-2, C-3, and several mixed-use zones. Retailers must stay at least 2,000 feet from any public or private elementary or secondary school, measured from the school’s lot line to the closest point of the retail space, and at least 100 feet from any residential zoning district. The 100-foot residential buffer does not apply if the property fronts a principal arterial or interstate highway.6Clackamas County. Ordinance ZDO-271 – Zoning and Development Ordinance Section 841
Building Permits and Safety
Title 9 covers building safety across four chapters: dangerous buildings and structures (9.01), enforcement of the county building code (9.02), excavation and grading (9.03), and erosion prevention (9.04).7Clackamas County. Clackamas County Code – Title 9 Buildings In practice, you need a building permit before starting new construction, additions, or significant remodeling on any structure in unincorporated county land. Every building code violation is treated as the county’s highest enforcement priority.
Permit applications go through the county’s Development Direct online portal, which handles building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits that require plan review.8Clackamas County. How to Apply for a Permit If you are unsure whether your project needs a permit, the county building services office can be reached at 503-742-4240.
Noise Control
Chapter 6.05 governs noise in unincorporated areas, and the ordinance applies a lower noise threshold between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.9Clackamas County. Apply for a Noise Variance Those overnight hours are when loud music, parties, and mechanical equipment are most likely to draw complaints and citations. For something legitimately noisy outside normal hours, such as an early-morning concrete pour or a weekend event, you can apply for a noise variance through the county in advance. That costs far less than contesting a citation afterward.
Dog Licensing
Chapter 5.01, “Animal Licensing, Services and Enforcement,” focuses primarily on dogs. Every dog in Clackamas County must be licensed, and owners have 30 days after acquiring a dog or moving into the county to get one. A current rabies vaccination is required.10Clackamas County. Dog Licenses and Laws Current fees are:
- One year, spayed or neutered: $32
- One year, fertile: $52
- Three years, spayed or neutered: $96
- Three years, fertile: $156
- Replacement tag: $5
Owners of dangerous dogs must keep the animal in a secure enclosure that meets standards approved by the county’s Hearings Officer. A continuing violation, like a dog that roams free day after day, can draw a separate citation for each day it continues.11Clackamas County. Clackamas County Code Chapter 5.01 – Animal Licensing, Services and Enforcement
Short-Term Rentals
Chapter 8.10 regulates short-term rentals, defined as any dwelling unit rented for lodging for up to 30 consecutive nights. You must register the property with the county before advertising or hosting any guests. The application requires the property location and owner contact information, proof of liability insurance, a transient room tax registration form, a designated contact person who can respond to complaints, and a signed affidavit confirming compliance with building, fire, and occupancy standards.12Clackamas County. Clackamas County Code Chapter 8.10 – Short-Term Rentals Maximum occupancy is two people per sleeping area plus four additional occupants. Renters cannot sublease or use the property to generate further income.
Separately, operators owe a 6% transient lodging tax on stays of up to 30 consecutive calendar days, established under Ordinance 8.02. Operators or booking intermediaries must register with the county and collect the tax from guests. Failing to register or collect this tax is a distinct violation from any issue with your rental registration.13Clackamas County. Transient Lodging Tax
Filing a Code Enforcement Complaint
Code Enforcement handles a specific list: the ZDO (Title 12), building safety (Title 9), solid waste (Chapter 10.03), road use (Chapter 7.03), graffiti (Chapter 6.11), and Oregon DEQ rules.2Clackamas County. Codes Enforced in Clackamas County Many complaints the county receives belong to a city government, a state agency, or a homeowners’ association, and the county cannot act on those.
To report something the county does enforce, use the complaint form on the county website. Include the exact address, a clear description of what you are seeing, and dated photographs or other supporting evidence when possible.14Clackamas County. County Code Violation Complaint
Anonymous Versus Confidential Complaints
Anonymous complaints, meaning ones with no name or contact information, are not investigated at all. You can request confidentiality so your identity is shielded from the property owner, but you still have to give your name and contact details to the county. The threshold for opening the case depends on the type of violation:15Clackamas County. Complaints Intake Policy
- Non-safety issues: two separate confidential complaints from different people are required.
- Life, health, safety, or environmental hazards, or confirmed criminal activity: a single confidential complaint is enough.
Penalties and Hearings
Violations are ranked from Priority 1 (most urgent) to Priority 7 (least urgent). All building code violations get Priority 1 automatically. The county pursues most categories through Priority 4, which means issues ranked 5 through 7 may see less active enforcement depending on resources.16Clackamas County. 2018 Code Enforcement Violation Priorities
When a violation is confirmed, the penalty structure sets a minimum fine of $750 and allows up to $5,000 per violation under the applicable statute. For continuing violations, each day the problem persists counts as a separate offense with its own daily penalty, which is how an ignored notice turns into a genuinely expensive problem.17Clackamas County. Clackamas County Code Enforcement Penalties
Citations go before an independent Code Enforcement Hearings Officer who decides cases on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners. Hearings are open to the public and held virtually through Zoom, with a link posted about one week before the hearing date. The Hearings Officer’s decision is the county’s final determination, and any further appeal goes to Clackamas County Circuit Court. If you need accommodations, contact the code enforcement office at least three business days before your hearing.18Clackamas County. Code Enforcement Hearings Officer